i just accidentally mis-typed a URL, and got a re-direct web-page from EarthLink (my ISP).

tried again with an intentionally bad URL (yahhhhoo.com), and here's what ya get:

http://earthlink-help.net/?d=error_earthlink-bf&q=www.yahhhhoo.com

am i the only one seeing this (EarthLink subscribers)?

9/8/2006 10:14:56 PM

you installed the earthlink cd eh

9/9/2006 10:52:51 AM

Wow, I am getting that now.

It must be new...

I didn't install the Earthlink CD either.

[Edited on September 9, 2006 at 10:57 AM. Reason : ]

9/9/2006 10:57:30 AM

^^ negative, no earthlink CD. this started on it's own just yesterday, as far as I can tell.

9/9/2006 10:59:04 AM

I sent them feedback asking them to remove the ads and choose a better layout, or just remove the "feature" all together.

9/9/2006 11:03:33 AM

SOLUTION: use NCSU's dns servers or something

9/9/2006 11:12:44 AM

that's a workaround, not a solution. if i'm paying earthlink for service, i think i'm entitled to notice and explanation when they decide to change what i'm paying for. when Network Solutions tried this sort of thing a couple of years ago, just about everyone on the 'Net got mad at them.

9/9/2006 11:25:09 AM

it's not like you don't have the option for timewarner or dsl

9/9/2006 2:39:28 PM

yeah, i suppose, but switchinging ISP's is kinda like tearing down the house because you can't get a toilet to flush. you're solving the problem, but not really.

9/9/2006 5:08:10 PM

Quote :

"if i'm paying earthlink for service, i think i'm entitled to notice and explanation when they decide to change what i'm paying for."

Someone didn't read the contract they signed.

9/9/2006 6:04:32 PM

I fail to see what the issue is here. It's not like they're redirecting actual sites to show you things that aren't there.

I guess you might argue that this could be the start of something like that, but right now you certainly do seem to be making a mountain out of this molehill.

9/9/2006 8:10:42 PM

Quote :

"yeah, i suppose, but switchinging ISP's is kinda like tearing down the house because you can't get a toilet to flush. you're solving the problem, but not really."

It would be more like moving because you have polybutelene. The toilet in your case is still flushing.

The consumer isn't always right.

Quote :

"if i'm paying earthlink for service, i think i'm entitled to notice and explanation when they decide to change what i'm paying for."

You might feel this way, but I doubt this is really the case. Do you honestly expect them to notify you of everything? In other news, this is their official blog and it was annouced over a week ago.
http://blogs.earthlink.net/2006/08/handling_dead_domains_1.php

9/9/2006 10:30:15 PM

^ thanks very much for sharing that link. i hadn't really looked around to see what EarthLink had in the way of public communication, so i appreciate it. as far as expecting them to keep folks like me informed... no, I don't expect it. but at the same time, this would have been one of those times where the marketing department and the technical department should have gotten together, maybe sent out a polite e-mail to their users...

anyway, no sweat now. not looking to start a flame war or anything. like i said at the beginning of this thread, i was mainly wondering if anyone else was seeing this behavior. thanks.

[Edited on September 9, 2006 at 10:43 PM. Reason : .]

9/9/2006 10:42:41 PM